Name: Colonel Ji Xingwen (吉星文) Age: 29 at 1937 Gender: Male Occupation: KMT Commanding Officer 219th Regiment, 37th Division, 29th Army Appearance: Short black hair, middle aged, tall Location: China (area in China changes in each event). Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Serious personality (being a high ranking KMT soldier), dislikes Japanese and the PRC. However, knows that many soldiers are forced into the army and pity the young ones and are aware of things that are morally right. Chaing Kai Shek is his role model that he wishes to live up to. Family: Born into a high class family. Parents dead due to old age. Education: High level of education, enabling him to achieve such an high rank in the military. Languages you speak: Chinese Your main concerns at this time and in life: After being promoted to a Commanding Officer in 1937, I had a very big role in the army, especially since China is in chaos from Japanese invasions. I wish to end the battle between the Japanese as quickly as possible and drive them out of our land. Portrait (an image that you and we can live with):
DIARY ENTRIES:
Journal # 1:
July 7, 1937,
"Don't let any of them enter this town."
That was the first order I gave to my soldiers after my promotion to Commanding Officer.
Earlier today, in the outskirts of Beijing near the Marco Polo Bridge, the Japanese had been making quite a fuss, telling us to let them enter a town to find a missing solider of theirs. We made sure none of them had entry to this small Chinese town, as the civilians would be in danger. After a few quiet hours, we thought the Japanese had left their posts.
Bang.
My soldiers and I were all alarmed after hearing the piercing sound of a single gunshot in the dead-silent night. My first battle as a Commanding Officer had just started. With only around a thousand soldiers, we fought the Japanese, who were far more superior than us in technology and skill, although we were the ones leading in number. I watched my inexperienced soldiers fall beside me, and soon I noticed there were more than hundreds lying on the ground. "Stay calm. You've been in plenty battles.", I told myself.
I heard the scream of a woman, and the cries of a child.
I looked back, and just a few steps away, a mother was just stabbed by a Japanese soldier. The child was in disbelief, screaming and crying in front of the body of his mother. The soldier met eyes with me, grinning with an evil smile. I thought of my own mother, who passed away a few days back. Unable to control my temper, I rushed at him and locked into physical contact. I got my knife. I stabbed his eye. I stabbed his chest. I stabbed his throat.
I started killing every Japanese soldier that came in contact with me. Shooting and stabbing, one by one, I was just about to kill another one of these inhumane animals. This one was crying. He was begging for his mother. He was begging to go home. I noticed my hands, covered in blood. Taking a closer look at the face of this soldier, I noticed that he was young. A boy that looked as young as fifteen. One of my soldiers came and shot him in the leg, leaving him breathing heavily. It was then when I noticed something that I should've noticed earlier. Most of these soldiers were children. I looked back - most of our soldiers were children.
(The crying solider is Sora Tatsukichi - Kyu Park's character)
Journal # 2:
August 8th, 1937,
Today, we were in another conflict with the Japanese. Since the Marco Polo Bridge conflict, I had mixed feelings about this war, that mostly involved children. But then I thought, if we don't continue fighting, China would be entirely taken over by the Japanese, which would affect our own children. As a commanding officer, I could not show any weakness. I decided to keep fighting, to drive the Japanese out of our land once and for all. And to hopefully end the deaths of countless children by ending this war at least a day earlier.
Anti-Japanese ideas grew and grew these past years, and it lead to the temporary unification of the PRC and the KMT armies. Although I am fully against communist ideals, limiting the freedom of our people's, I was one who agreed to work together with the communists as all I want is for the war to end. By joining powers, I believed that we would have greater power, which would finally force the Japanese to leave our land.
But that simply was not the case.
We were in Manchuria, however, suffering a very heavy loss. The Japanese seemed stronger than before. Stronger than at the Marco Polo Bridge conflict. Even with our combined powers, I was aware that the Japanese were annihilating us. These soldiers were skilled, even the children. Some being more so than our older soldiers. During our battles, many young Japanese soldiers attempt to kill me. At the Marco Polo bridge accident, I remember one was almost able to do so. Today, a soldier tried another attempt to kill me. As always, it was a child. With many wounds and also a gunshot to his leg, I could have easily killed the soldier. But I chose to let him live. I do not want to be responsible for the death of such a young man.
Falling one by one, seeing our uniforms drenched in red on the ground, our combined army soon began to retreat, being overpowered. However, the Japanese were not in a state to do much either, as they had lost just as many soldiers as we did. We retreated and the fighting halted, but the coming hours will harass my nose with the smell of blood once again.
(The Japanese soldier that attempted to kill me was Daiki Tatsukichi, Yoonshin Lee's Character).
Journal # 3:
June 10th, 1942,
The Sino-Japanese War is continuing, but it doesn't look all that great for us. Actually, it looks really bad. The Japanese are prevailing over us. Both the KMT and the PRC forces are gone. Most of our forces have been destroyed and there are only a few soldiers left on our side. I am no longer a general in the United Army. The Japanese are sweeping over our land like we are a bunch of feathers... but that doesn't mean that all hope is destroyed.
Our army is not completely dead, there are still a few left that can fight for our country. In the places where the Japanese have taken over, guerrilla armies have been forming. I am a leader of one of the many guerrilla forces that have formed in this nation. With my former rank as a general in the Chinese army, many of our people have been turning to me for guidance. Our guerrilla army has been training for months to be able to fight the skilled Japanese soldiers.
Today is the day we attack.
Nearby, Japanese supply ships were docked. Our plan took place by starting a surprise attack on the ships and the soldiers in this area. If we are able to destroy all the ships, the Japanese would be at a huge disadvantage as all their materials would be gone. They will not be able to last very long fighting without their supplies, which means that they will have to eventually retreat.
It felt good.
It was so long since I have been in a winning battle. The Japanese definitely was not ready for our surprise attack. We have killed most of them. I was about to finish off the few remaining soldiers left, till I saw this one man. He looked at my angry face, and he knew that it would be impossible for him to defeat me. He was accepting his death. I put my gun down and noticed something. "You are not a Japanese right? You're a Korean..." I said. I noticed that he despised the Japanese. That he did not want to continue fighting.
"I lost everything from them as well. Don't give up your hope. The day will come when we will gain our freedom back."
That is what I told him before I left.
(The Korean soldier is Jong Kyu Jung, Jong Kyu Jung's character.)
Journal # 4:
August 9th, 1945,
The guerrilla forces are no more. China has made a glorious comeback and are now starting to overcome the Japanese. After forming an alliance with the forces of Soviet Union, our army is stronger than ever. The few forces that had been left on our side has sudden grown to vast numbers.
Our improved army has finally brought fear into the Japanese, but that would not be enough for them to weaken so quickly. Yes, there has been another event that resulted in their sudden weakness. The bombing of Hiroshima a few days back and the bombing of Nagasaki, which I have only heard of a few hours back, is definitely the most devastating attack that I have ever heard of. A single bomb turning a big city into ashes in a matter of seconds would definitely be something to be afraid of. Although I am not very fond of the Americans, they will play a very big part in bringing our freedom back.
Today, I am in Manchuria. Our alliance with the Soviet Union is finally blooming, as we are at an advantage over the Japanese. Operation August Storm was at a good start. Our Chinese forces, the Soviet forces, and the Mongolian forces have surrounded the Japanese army by coming in from the East and West. In a few days, it is strongly possible that Manchuria will be returned to its rightful nation.
Just like any other war, the fights between the soldiers are cruel. However, since freedom is at close hands, the war will end soon. These children will no longer have to suffer the pain of war. During the battle, I locked eyes with a young soldier.
It was the young Korean boy who I've seen a few years ago.
So, he's still alive, huh? Just then, he pointed his gun at me and pulled the trigger. The bullet missed me by an inch. It's hard for me to shoot a soldier like him, who is dreaming for his freedom as well. But I had no choice. I shot his arm so the injury wouldn't be fatal to him. The soldier fainted. After a few hours of fighting, the Japanese started to retreat. We were victorious in the battle today. And it was not by a close call, as the Japanese suffered more losses than us. I sighted the Korean soldier again, and took him to our medical treatment camp.
I sat beside him till the next day, when he woke up. He had a very confused, fearful face.
I told him, "It's all over..."
(The Korean soldier is Jong Kyu Jung, Jong Kyu Jung's character.)
Age: 29 at 1937
Gender: Male
Occupation: KMT Commanding Officer 219th Regiment, 37th Division, 29th Army
Appearance: Short black hair, middle aged, tall
Location: China (area in China changes in each event).
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Serious personality (being a high ranking KMT soldier), dislikes Japanese and the PRC. However, knows that many soldiers are forced into the army and pity the young ones and are aware of things that are morally right. Chaing Kai Shek is his role model that he wishes to live up to.
Family: Born into a high class family. Parents dead due to old age.
Education: High level of education, enabling him to achieve such an high rank in the military.
Languages you speak: Chinese
Your main concerns at this time and in life: After being promoted to a Commanding Officer in 1937, I had a very big role in the army, especially since China is in chaos from Japanese invasions. I wish to end the battle between the Japanese as quickly as possible and drive them out of our land.
Portrait (an image that you and we can live with):
DIARY ENTRIES:
Journal # 1:
July 7, 1937,
"Don't let any of them enter this town."
That was the first order I gave to my soldiers after my promotion to Commanding Officer.
Earlier today, in the outskirts of Beijing near the Marco Polo Bridge, the Japanese had been making quite a fuss, telling us to let them enter a town to find a missing solider of theirs. We made sure none of them had entry to this small Chinese town, as the civilians would be in danger. After a few quiet hours, we thought the Japanese had left their posts.
Bang.
My soldiers and I were all alarmed after hearing the piercing sound of a single gunshot in the dead-silent night. My first battle as a Commanding Officer had just started. With only around a thousand soldiers, we fought the Japanese, who were far more superior than us in technology and skill, although we were the ones leading in number. I watched my inexperienced soldiers fall beside me, and soon I noticed there were more than hundreds lying on the ground. "Stay calm. You've been in plenty battles.", I told myself.
I heard the scream of a woman, and the cries of a child.
I looked back, and just a few steps away, a mother was just stabbed by a Japanese soldier. The child was in disbelief, screaming and crying in front of the body of his mother. The soldier met eyes with me, grinning with an evil smile. I thought of my own mother, who passed away a few days back. Unable to control my temper, I rushed at him and locked into physical contact. I got my knife. I stabbed his eye. I stabbed his chest. I stabbed his throat.
I started killing every Japanese soldier that came in contact with me. Shooting and stabbing, one by one, I was just about to kill another one of these inhumane animals. This one was crying. He was begging for his mother. He was begging to go home. I noticed my hands, covered in blood. Taking a closer look at the face of this soldier, I noticed that he was young. A boy that looked as young as fifteen. One of my soldiers came and shot him in the leg, leaving him breathing heavily. It was then when I noticed something that I should've noticed earlier. Most of these soldiers were children. I looked back - most of our soldiers were children.
(The crying solider is Sora Tatsukichi - Kyu Park's character)
Journal # 2:
August 8th, 1937,
Today, we were in another conflict with the Japanese. Since the Marco Polo Bridge conflict, I had mixed feelings about this war, that mostly involved children. But then I thought, if we don't continue fighting, China would be entirely taken over by the Japanese, which would affect our own children. As a commanding officer, I could not show any weakness. I decided to keep fighting, to drive the Japanese out of our land once and for all. And to hopefully end the deaths of countless children by ending this war at least a day earlier.
Anti-Japanese ideas grew and grew these past years, and it lead to the temporary unification of the PRC and the KMT armies. Although I am fully against communist ideals, limiting the freedom of our people's, I was one who agreed to work together with the communists as all I want is for the war to end. By joining powers, I believed that we would have greater power, which would finally force the Japanese to leave our land.
But that simply was not the case.
We were in Manchuria, however, suffering a very heavy loss. The Japanese seemed stronger than before. Stronger than at the Marco Polo Bridge conflict. Even with our combined powers, I was aware that the Japanese were annihilating us. These soldiers were skilled, even the children. Some being more so than our older soldiers. During our battles, many young Japanese soldiers attempt to kill me. At the Marco Polo bridge accident, I remember one was almost able to do so. Today, a soldier tried another attempt to kill me. As always, it was a child. With many wounds and also a gunshot to his leg, I could have easily killed the soldier. But I chose to let him live. I do not want to be responsible for the death of such a young man.
Falling one by one, seeing our uniforms drenched in red on the ground, our combined army soon began to retreat, being overpowered. However, the Japanese were not in a state to do much either, as they had lost just as many soldiers as we did. We retreated and the fighting halted, but the coming hours will harass my nose with the smell of blood once again.
(The Japanese soldier that attempted to kill me was Daiki Tatsukichi, Yoonshin Lee's Character).
Journal # 3:
June 10th, 1942,
The Sino-Japanese War is continuing, but it doesn't look all that great for us. Actually, it looks really bad. The Japanese are prevailing over us. Both the KMT and the PRC forces are gone. Most of our forces have been destroyed and there are only a few soldiers left on our side. I am no longer a general in the United Army. The Japanese are sweeping over our land like we are a bunch of feathers... but that doesn't mean that all hope is destroyed.
Our army is not completely dead, there are still a few left that can fight for our country. In the places where the Japanese have taken over, guerrilla armies have been forming. I am a leader of one of the many guerrilla forces that have formed in this nation. With my former rank as a general in the Chinese army, many of our people have been turning to me for guidance. Our guerrilla army has been training for months to be able to fight the skilled Japanese soldiers.
Today is the day we attack.
Nearby, Japanese supply ships were docked. Our plan took place by starting a surprise attack on the ships and the soldiers in this area. If we are able to destroy all the ships, the Japanese would be at a huge disadvantage as all their materials would be gone. They will not be able to last very long fighting without their supplies, which means that they will have to eventually retreat.
It felt good.
It was so long since I have been in a winning battle. The Japanese definitely was not ready for our surprise attack. We have killed most of them. I was about to finish off the few remaining soldiers left, till I saw this one man. He looked at my angry face, and he knew that it would be impossible for him to defeat me. He was accepting his death. I put my gun down and noticed something. "You are not a Japanese right? You're a Korean..." I said. I noticed that he despised the Japanese. That he did not want to continue fighting.
"I lost everything from them as well. Don't give up your hope. The day will come when we will gain our freedom back."
That is what I told him before I left.
(The Korean soldier is Jong Kyu Jung, Jong Kyu Jung's character.)
Journal # 4:
August 9th, 1945,
The guerrilla forces are no more. China has made a glorious comeback and are now starting to overcome the Japanese. After forming an alliance with the forces of Soviet Union, our army is stronger than ever. The few forces that had been left on our side has sudden grown to vast numbers.
Our improved army has finally brought fear into the Japanese, but that would not be enough for them to weaken so quickly. Yes, there has been another event that resulted in their sudden weakness. The bombing of Hiroshima a few days back and the bombing of Nagasaki, which I have only heard of a few hours back, is definitely the most devastating attack that I have ever heard of. A single bomb turning a big city into ashes in a matter of seconds would definitely be something to be afraid of. Although I am not very fond of the Americans, they will play a very big part in bringing our freedom back.
Today, I am in Manchuria. Our alliance with the Soviet Union is finally blooming, as we are at an advantage over the Japanese. Operation August Storm was at a good start. Our Chinese forces, the Soviet forces, and the Mongolian forces have surrounded the Japanese army by coming in from the East and West. In a few days, it is strongly possible that Manchuria will be returned to its rightful nation.
Just like any other war, the fights between the soldiers are cruel. However, since freedom is at close hands, the war will end soon. These children will no longer have to suffer the pain of war. During the battle, I locked eyes with a young soldier.
It was the young Korean boy who I've seen a few years ago.
So, he's still alive, huh? Just then, he pointed his gun at me and pulled the trigger. The bullet missed me by an inch. It's hard for me to shoot a soldier like him, who is dreaming for his freedom as well. But I had no choice. I shot his arm so the injury wouldn't be fatal to him. The soldier fainted. After a few hours of fighting, the Japanese started to retreat. We were victorious in the battle today. And it was not by a close call, as the Japanese suffered more losses than us. I sighted the Korean soldier again, and took him to our medical treatment camp.
I sat beside him till the next day, when he woke up. He had a very confused, fearful face.
I told him, "It's all over..."
(The Korean soldier is Jong Kyu Jung, Jong Kyu Jung's character.)
WORK CITED
http://www.generals.dk/general/Ji_Xingwen/_/China.html
http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/hiroshima.htm
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/editorial/taiwan-issues/2009/07/07/215168/The-Marco.htm
http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/bookrev/glantz.html